Microsoft Great Plains or current name of this mid-market ERP is Dynamics GP has various development and programming options: Dexterity, eConnect, VBA/Modifier, SQL stored procedures openness, SDK for Microsoft Visual Studio developer to name few popular.
The topic is very popular as more GP MRP and accounting systems are in process of being installed and implemented. Special interest we expect from eCommerce developers, where such questions as automatic batch posting, Sales Order deposits application are very popular ones.
1. Microsoft Dexterity. This IDE and programming language remain one of the most popular and reliable in add-on design and coding. Dex mods are distributed as so-called Dexterity chunks, which are integrated with GP user application on the first launch. Dexterity programming or also referred as scripting language is Sanscript. Such interpretation dictionary files as Dynamics.Dic, Reports.Dic are in essence Dexterity business logic repositories
2. Integration Add-Ons. Here you are deploying such modern tools as eConnect. In certain cases, where you need EDI or Electronic Document Interchange format integration, you may decide to use SQL stored procedure, where you implement fixed length fields format. Of course you can deploy EDI third party tools, however there is always a temptation to implement EDI in-house with simple SQL select scripts
3. GP reports. Modern versions of Dynamics GP: 10.0, 9.0 and 8.0 are available on MS SQL Server DB platform only and you as report designer can deploy such tools as either SRS or Crystal Reports at your choice. In either case, we recommend you not to relay on report wizard, but instead create report record set selecting SQL stored procedure or view, prior to even launching report resign tool. If you are satisfied with your selection in SQL query analyzer, chances are high that your Crystal report will be instantly perfect
4. Add-ons version upgrade. If you have legacy Dexterity add-ons, you should also get or have Dexterity source code for them. If you have the source – then Dexterity programmer or your GP ISV partner will be able to review custom application and upgrade it accordingly. If you are not sure what source code is, then you should consult with your MBS VAR or seek for second opinion
Dexterity Customization for Dynamics GP Evaluation Level Paper
When you are developer it is always a good idea to read technical manuals. But if you was just assigned to the IT team to decide if Dexterity is the right tool to customize your ERP application then first you need something which is in style of ‘easy reading papers’ or FAQ
Planning Dynamics GP Customization in Large Corporation
If you are reading this page then chances are high that you were not able to find ISV add-on and need customization project. Let’s talk about planning, quality assurance and future event such as version updates.
Dynamics GP Invoice Logo Attributed to Specific Company or Crossing the Borders of Three SOP Forms
Initial Great Plains Dynamics architecture had three SOP Invoice forms: Long, Short and Blank. Modern GP is popular in scenarios where you have more than three companies under one business entity umbrella
